Cahaba Lily Festival will be held Saturday

The Cahaba lily grows along the Cahaba River in Bibb County. A festival will be held Saturday in West Blocton celebrating the rare flower.

Submitted Photo

Staff report

Published: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:37 p.m.

The 24th annual Cahaba Lily Festival will be Saturday at the Cahaba Lily Center on Main Street in West Blocton.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the program will start at 9:10 a.m.

The festival celebrates the rare lily that grows in clusters in the shoals of the Cahaba River.

Larry Davenport of Samford University, an authority on the Cahaba lily, will headline the morning program, which will feature the awarding of the Kae Canon Allen Memorial Award, the crowning of Miss Cahaba Lily, as well as presentations by the Cahaba River Society, Nature Conservancy, Alabama Wildflower Society and the Bibb County Citizens for Wildflowers.

Just outside the Cahaba Lily Center, a variety of native plants and other nature-related items will be available for purchase.

Lunch will be served by the West Blocton Improvement Committee, in exchange for a donation.

Field trips to the river to view the lilies will take place after lunch.

Shuttle buses to the river will be provided. Canoe rentals will be available for $20 from 1-3 p.m. through the Cahaba River Society. Afternoon tours of the nearby historic Blocton Beehive Coke Ovens will also take place between 1:15 and 3 p.m.

Evening events at the Cahaba Lily Center will begin at 3:15 p.m. featuring story telling and dulcimer music by the Cahaba Olde Tyme Music Society.

All events are free.

West Blocton is off Alabama Highway 5 and can be reached from Interstate 20/59 at Exit 97. From the junction of U.S. Highway 82 and

<p>The 24th annual Cahaba Lily Festival will be Saturday at the Cahaba Lily Center on Main Street in West Blocton. </p><p>Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the program will start at 9:10 a.m. </p><p>The festival celebrates the rare lily that grows in clusters in the shoals of the Cahaba River.</p><p>Larry Davenport of Samford University, an authority on the Cahaba lily, will headline the morning program, which will feature the awarding of the Kae Canon Allen Memorial Award, the crowning of Miss Cahaba Lily, as well as presentations by the Cahaba River Society, Nature Conservancy, Alabama Wildflower Society and the Bibb County Citizens for Wildflowers.</p><p> Just outside the Cahaba Lily Center, a variety of native plants and other nature-related items will be available for purchase.</p><p>Lunch will be served by the West Blocton Improvement Committee, in exchange for a donation.</p><p>Field trips to the river to view the lilies will take place after lunch.</p><p>Shuttle buses to the river will be provided. Canoe rentals will be available for $20 from 1-3 p.m. through the Cahaba River Society. Afternoon tours of the nearby historic Blocton Beehive Coke Ovens will also take place between 1:15 and 3 p.m. </p><p> Evening events at the Cahaba Lily Center will begin at 3:15 p.m. featuring story telling and dulcimer music by the Cahaba Olde Tyme Music Society. </p><p>All events are free.</p><p>West Blocton is off Alabama Highway 5 and can be reached from Interstate 20/59 at Exit 97. From the junction of U.S. Highway 82 and </p><p>Alabama Highway 5 in Centreville/Brent, take Alabama Highway 5 north 13 miles.</p><p>For information, call the West Blocton Town Hall at 205-938-7622, Charles Allen at 205-938-2479 or Myrtle Jones at 205-938-7304 or email info@cahabalily.com.</p>